Hand signals a pointer to pressure

They are photographed daily pressing flesh with the great and the good.

Whether they are holding baby Leo or embracing President Bush, Tony Blair's hands are one of the most familiar images on our screens.

But to experts his hand signals are key indicators of his mood and stress.

Keen Blair watchers categorise his trademark gestures as "the Village People stomp," "the John Travolta" and "the Salami Slicer".

Parliamentary sketch writer Quentin Letts said: "His hand movements are quite camp. You will see him time and again with his left hand on his left hip, using his right hand to stress points.

"That is the John Travolta. It looks as if he is about to break out in a disco move. When he is attacking a Tory or Liberal on a point he is sure of he often goes into the Village People mode, where he seems to cradle his hands into a church roof shape.

"Then, when he breaks an argument down into nuggets he brings his hands down as if he was chopping salami.

"But Blair does the gestures so much there is the suspicion they are not natural."

Body language expert Robert Phipps challenges Downing Street claims that the PM was not coached. Mr Phipps said: "I would have thought he has been coached in body language because he is very expressive.

"In most of these pictures you see him with open fingers with his palms turned towards his body, as if he is trying to draw people in with him, as if to say 'Come with me'."

But no amount of coaching can stamp out the tell-tale signs that show when Mr Blair is cornered.

Mr Phipps added: "The thing with body language is that it is very, very hard to hide the signals that show you are under pressure."

Glen McCready, who trains executives in public speaking, said: "It is difficult to tell where Tony Blair ends and Rory Bremner begins."